| rfowkes |
I'll be getting a '04 MDX when they come out in a few months. Recently a friend purchased a '03 Honda Pilot and ran into a problem with his EZPass (NY based). It seems that the unit doesn't work properly when mounted in the standard position on his windshield. When he called EZPass to find out why his EZPass was not working at toll booths he was asked "What kind of a car are you driving?"
And when he told them it was a Honda Pilot he was informed that this was a vehicle, because of its windshield, that required an externally mounted EZPass (they connect it to the license plate frame or something like that).
My concerns are these:
- Since the Pilot and the Acura are supposedly very "similar" in many respects (yes, I know the differences, and, of course I'm buying an MDX not a Pilot!) is there a chance that the EZPass problem might also exist on newer MDXs? I've searched the term on the forum and apparently quite a few members with older MDXs use EZPass with no mention of any problems. Is it o.k. with the '03 (and I would guess '04) MDX?
- If there is an EZPass/MDX compatibility problem I'm not too thrilled with the prospect of placing a unit outside the vehicle. Any experiences with that?
I've used EZpass on all my vehicles since its inception and agree that it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, wi-fi, PVR's, MDX NAV, etc. I'd hate to find out there's a hassle with EZPass in an MDX.
Experiences?
Comments?
Thanks. |
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| cmdpm |
RAF,
i have had ezpass from the pennsylvania turnpike for several months.
i have never had a problem and i mount it above the level of the rearview mirror (just below the headliner) on the windsheild of my '03 MDX.
i have also used it in the nyc area when i visit family---no external antenna necessary!
Good luck with the '04,
chris |
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| Blackura |
Hi RAF...
I'm a frequent EZ Passer (sounds like a disgusting personal problem, I know...) but I've had no problem at all.
I even mounted the tag behind the tinted bar at the top of the windshield where they warn that it could be problematic and yet it's worked flawlessly for me. I like it up there because it's virtually invisible from the outside of the vehicle and should be a bit safer from EZPass theives.
I've seen the "outside" EZPasses on some vehicles with heated windshields where EZPass does not work at all. It's mounted on top of the front license plate and is not too attractive. |
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| Warzau |
| Hmmm I don't know why it would matter? I have a I-Pass ( Illinois equivalent) and I have it to the left of the rear view mirror and in the tinted area. Works fine all the time. Ask if you can get a new transponder and see if that helps? |
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| rfowkes |
Thanks, all, for the responses to my questions. I feel confident now that EZ-PASS and MDX work well together. I'll also pass your comments on to my friend to see if the issue with his '03 Pilot might be solved with a different placement. I believe he used "standard" placement on his Pilot (as I do with all my cars) - high up front behind the rear-view mirror. Virtually out of sight.
I also wonder if there is a design difference between the '03 Pilot and the '03 MDX that causes EZ-PASS to work in one but not the other.
Anybody know?
Thanks. |
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| BklynMDX |
Same here, mine works fine. :29:
I believe it was last year when I received a letter saying that I had to send back my EZPass in exchange for, I guess, an upgraded version. I would tell him to return or go to one of the EZPass centers for a new one. |
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| rfowkes |
Thanks, BklynMDX!
I'll pass the information on.
BTW, very nicely appointed vehicle. I'll be getting a black '04 MDX but I'm learning a lot about accessories and I really like the choices you've made. How much of this was dealer installed and how much did you add on yourself? |
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| paul123 |
| EZ-pass works great on my 2002 model. I've had it since my baby was new. |
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| y2ks2k |
| God Im glad I dont have to pay to drive on our hiways :) |
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| BaldEagle |
I don't even know what EZpass is?
A benefit of living in small town America. |
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| rfowkes |
quote:
Originally posted by y2ks2k
God Im glad I dont have to pay to drive on our hiways :)
So, you've discovered a way to get gasoline for free?
:2:
The old TANSTAFL principle from my days in ECONOMICS 101:
quote:
"There Ain't No Such Thing As a Free Lunch"
:D |
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| rfowkes |
quote:
Originally posted by BaldEagle
I don't even know what EZpass is?
A benefit of living in small town America.
For now, BE, for now.
Back here in the East they've started to test market using EZPASS for fast food drive-in restaurants and other places where people pay for items without getting out of their cars. For once, the pattern of fads starting on the west coast and then traveling to the east coast may be headed the other way.
It's about time that there was some payback for Hula Hoops and such!
:2: :2: :2: |
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| JTM |
No problem with EZPass with my 02 model. I used it on 3 trips to NYC/JFK.
I believe EZPass is using between Baltimore and Boston/New England. |
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| hammermdx |
| No problem in my 02, I use it all the time! EZ Pass is a tag that you mount on the windshield and it allows you to move through toll plazas without having to look for change. You open an account, give them a credit card, they set a minimum payment amount based on our average usage, and you get a statement once a month. |
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| rfowkes |
quote:
Originally posted by JTM
No problem with EZPass with my 02 model. I used it on 3 trips to NYC/JFK.
I believe EZPass is using between Baltimore and Boston/New England.
The last time I drove from NY to Florida (last November) I was able to use EZPASS for everything except the Florida Tolls (they use "Sunpass" or something like that). And friends told me that they were in the process of switching their equipment over so that it would also accommodate EZPASS (for all the "snowbirds" who drive down each year to escape winter.)
And, come to think of it, the Wild West is no longer without some toll roads. The last time I was in LA they had started a sort of "driving caste system" in some counties where you pay for the opportunity to use some express lanes. I see this as a trend that will probably head back east (here we go again!) since the traffic is so horrendous in some places out there that it sometimes is worth it to pay a little to save an hour. They also allow cars with multiple occupants to ride the express lanes for free. While the LA system didn't accept EZPASS at the time, I'm guessing that we will eventually have a universal system in place. |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by y2ks2k
God Im glad I dont have to pay to drive on our hiways :)
I hear that, but we're paying believe me, registration fees, gas prices, and of course insurance rates. :mad: |
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| suv4x4 |
| My 03 Mdx had problem with E-IPASS in Illinois. |
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| BklynMDX |
quote:
Originally posted by rfowkes
Thanks, BklynMDX!
I'll pass the information on.
BTW, very nicely appointed vehicle. I'll be getting a black '04 MDX but I'm learning a lot about accessories and I really like the choices you've made. How much of this was dealer installed and how much did you add on yourself?
Thank you RAF!
I purchased most of the accessories from Tim at hondacuraworld.com and I purchased a used cargo cover on Ebay for $60 which was in excellent condition. I had the dealer install the wood steering wheel (I didn't want to mess with the airbag) and the painted deflector (I couldn't bring myself to drilling my X). Everything else was a piece of cake. :29:
Black on black was my first choice but I fell in love with the Midnight Blue X in the showroom. Black and blue are beautiful colors especially when they are freshly waxed and clean, but when a speck of dust falls on the car it sticks out like a sore thumb. So if you are anal like I am, you'll spend ALOT of time detailing your car. Best of luck getting your X and keep us posted. |
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| rfowkes |
quote:
Black and blue are beautiful colors especially when they are freshly waxed and clean, but when a speck of dust falls on the car it sticks out like a sore thumb. So if you are anal like I am, you'll spend ALOT of time detailing your car. Best of luck getting your X and keep us posted.
BklynMDX,
Thanks for the information. I know what you mean about black beauties. I own (and will never get rid of) a 1995 Black Impala SS that I'm keeping mint and waiting for the 19 year mark when it becomes a classic officially (it already is). Been there, done that. |
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| xcel |
Hi All:
___I have been using I-Pass in my main vehicles for years. The 03 X just received its own I-Pass ~ three weeks ago and my wife has not had a problem yet? I won’t let her mount it permanently in her X so she holds it up in front of her at the one toll-booth she goes through when she decides to take that route to work. No problems so far anyways … knock on Plood.
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by xcel
Hi All:
___I have been using I-Pass in my main vehicles for years. The 03 X just received its own I-Pass ~ three weeks ago and my wife has not had a problem yet? I won’t let her mount it permanently in her X so she holds it up in front of her at the one toll-booth she goes through when she decides to take that route to work. No problems so far anyways … knock on Plood.
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net
I have a holder for my E-Z Pass that attached to the windshield with suction cups, like a radar detector. The E-Z Pass just slides into the holder and it's a piece of cake to take off the windshield. I got it at a local auto parts store. I didn't want any stink-in Velcro strips on my windshield.:2: |
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| xcel |
Hi Hammermdx:
___That is a great idea! Do you have any link’s, pic’s, or make/model information on the holder? I don’t mount my Corolla I-Pass in the window either because of that lousy plastic Velcro tape.
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by xcel
Hi Hammermdx:
___That is a great idea! Do you have any link’s, pic’s, or make/model information on the holder? I don’t mount my Corolla I-Pass in the window either because of that lousy plastic Velcro tape.
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net
Follow this link: http://shop.store.yahoo.com/rodi/ezclip.html |
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| teamTMS |
I've had my EZ-PASS (yes velcro'd) attached to my windshield since the day I got it. Never fell off. Yes, we are in NY, especially for us living on Staten Island, we need to use it everyday (requirement for the resident discount).
My EZ-PASS is hidden behind my rear-view mirror, mounted all the way to the top of the windshield so it is hidden when you glance at my windshileld from outside.
Works wonderfully on the NY/NJ crossings as well as NY bridges/tunnels. We also use it on the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway without any problems.
We have a 2001 MDX.
I don't see why the 2003 model would be any different. We have EZ-PASSES mounted on all our Hondas in a similar fashion and have never had any problems. Maybe you just have a defective EZ-PASS unit (which has happened to us before, the internal battery was weak); our local EZ-PASS office exchanged it free of charge. |
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| laborlitigator |
quote:
Originally posted by y2ks2k
God Im glad I dont have to pay to drive on our hiways :)
:19: :19: :19: |
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| toXornottoX |
Who would want to pay to drive on the BQE?
Anyway, I use EZPass on my 2003 and it works fine, haven't had any problems. |
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| rfowkes |
Another model year ('04) is upon us. And with it, many changes to the MDX - at least below the "surface." And this brings up a question I have that is related to the original thread here.
For '04, my MDX will have the "sound absorbing" (or whatever the term is) windshield. I'm wondering if this change will have any effect on the performance of a windshield-mounted EZ-PASS? Obviously, we can't be sure until the '04s hit the road where EZ-PASS is being used but I'm curious if any of you think there may be an issue here.
I know that a friend's EZ-PASS doesn't work windshield mounted in his Pilot ('03) but I'm not sure if that vehicle has a sound-absorbing windshield or whether this is the result of some windshield antenna or similar.
Do any current Acura models have this sound-absorbing glass and, if so, have there been any EZ-PASS use issues? I can't recall seeing any mentioned.
Of course, I'll have my answer as soon as my MDX arrives and I field test this. For now I'm just trying to find out if there might be a potential issue. (I'm not too thrilled about the idea of a license-mounted EZ-PASS module as was suggested to my friend with the Pilot).
Thanks in advance for any information or thoughts on this matter. |
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| elli |
The other day I did a trip to PA. I took out my EZ-pass from the glove box and put it on the top of the cup holder. Forgot to mount it on the windshield. But it worked without a problem. When I found out, I had passwd tunnel, bridge, NJ turnpike and PA turnpike.
Thus, ask your friend to put EZ-pass on the top of dash board. It may work.
As for the 04 windshiled, I don't think it will be a problem. The "sound absorbing" glass is just adding a layer of damper. (I doubt that it will work as Acura claims to be) However, I think the EZ-pass is using the electronic wave or infrared. |
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| rfowkes |
Thanks for the response, elli. I go from NY to PA all the time using the Garden State, NJ Turnpike and PA Turnpike (daughter in PA) so this is good news.
And I'll pass your advice on to my friend with the Pilot.
Take care. |
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